Hip-hop artists have been name-dropping the Obamas in song since they moved into the White House, and now some of them are volunteering for Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!†campaign with an album inspired by her work fighting childhood obesity.
The Partnership for a Healthier America, of which Mrs. Obama is honorary chairwoman, will join the Hip Hop Public Health Foundation in releasing a 19-song compilation encouraging children to exercise and choose healthy foods.
Doug E. Fresh, Travis Barker, Ariana Grande and other artists will contribute tracks to the album, “Songs for a Healthier America.†A video has already been released for the first single, “Everybody,†featuring Jordin Sparks, a winner of “American Idol,†with a guest appearance by Mrs. Obama speaking from the White House.
Other songs, including “Veggie Luv†and “U R What You Eat,†will be distributed to schools in New York City through the educational company Channel One. The album will be available as a free download on the Partnership for a Healthier America’s Web site when it is released on Sept. 30.
This is not the first time that the “Let’s Move!†campaign has used pop stars to broadcast its message. Beyoncé released a song in 2011 called “Move Your Body,†complete with a customized workout for children and a music video.
“Our mission is to make the healthy choice the easy choice,†said Drew Nannis of the Partnership for a Healthier America. “Few things do that as well as music. It doesn’t require any special apparel or membership cards. It just requires you to listen and start moving.â€
The video for “Everybody†features Dr. Mehmet Oz and the Hip Hop Doc in a back-and-forth about cardiology and calories.
“We’ll talk exercise,†Dr. Oz raps.
“Not politics,†the Hip Hop Doc responds.
